Saint Kitts and Nevis

Introduction

Background
Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British and French began settlement in 1623. At one time united with Anguilla, the islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis but remain a UK Commonwealth realm.

Geography

Area
total : 261 sq km
land: 261 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Natural resources
arable land

People and Society

Population
total: 55,133 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)

Languages
English (official)

Religions
Protestant 75.6% (includes Anglican 16.6%, Methodist 15.8%, Pentecostal 10.8%, Church of God 7.4%, Baptist 5.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Wesleyan Holiness 5.3%, Moravian 4.8%, Evangelical 2.1%, Brethren 1.7%, Presbyterian 0.3%), Roman Catholic 5.9%, Hindu 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other 5%, none 8.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Population growth rate
0.56% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Capital
name: Basseterre

Executive branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)

Economy

Economic overview
high-income, tourism-based Caribbean OECS economy; better debt balancing; CARICOM and ECCU member; growing offshore financial and telecommunications hub; environmentally fragile; unique citizenship-driven growth model

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.465 billion (2024 est.)
$1.448 billion (2023 est.)
$1.388 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$31,300 (2024 est.)
$31,000 (2023 est.)
$29,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$504.391 million (2024 est.)
$579.568 million (2023 est.)
$542.983 million (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities
ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)

Imports
$642.934 million (2024 est.)
$669.168 million (2023 est.)
$606.856 million (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.840, ranking it 58th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)